Tidbitting pullet

[Keeperofmunchkins]

I just thought I would share some interesting behaviour of my 6 month old gold sebright pullet, Pumpkin. She was raised in the house in a brooder with a few other chicks but we rehomed all but her and her sister by the time they were ready to move outdoors. Since then the two of them have been inseparable and I have observed some strange behaviour.

First of all, despite having their adult voices now, they still cry (croak) out for each other when they can't find each other the way chicks do. Secondly, the more dominant pullet, Pumpkin, tidbits for her sister the way a rooster would. She picks up and drops the treat and calls repeatedly until her sister, Nutmeg, comes. She will stop if any of my older hens approaches.

Also Pumpkin does the enticing routine that is similar to tidbitting to me, whereby she will pretend to pick up and drop anything nearby whenever Im near her and repeatedly lower and raise her head whilst making distinct noises. I believe this is her half hearted attempt at dominating me. She does not attempt it with any of my older hens.

Has anyone every seen a pullet try these sorts of dominance tricks? I have a 2 year old rooster who rules the flock by the way, although he will not allow the sebrights to eat his treats because they are not squatting for him yet.

I have included a photo of Pumpkin in the middle of the routine she goes through with me whenever I approach her.

 

[Ted_Harrell]

Beautiful girl! Now I want one...

 

[centrarchid]

It may not be dominance. My chicks will tidbit for siblings and even their mother. It is a way to help family.

Tidbitting shuts down when non-family is around.

 

[FortCluck]

I have a couple pairs of pullets that do tidbitting and we have 2 roosters. I believe it's just them looking out for one another. I would consider it an honor that she does it to you, that means she wants to care for you and you're part of the family.

My roosters only tidbit with a select few. I have 8 pullets and only 2 get treats from his mouth. He kills huge beetles and no one will go near them because they know they're for his selected 2.

 

[Duck_life]

My chickens still cry to lol.

 

[Mimi13]

Most of the tidbitting and calling I am seeing are from a couple of want-to-be broodies. Generally that action and tell tale sounds of the clucking lets me know the bird is about to be found all piled up in a nest box. Ah, nature!

 

[FortCluck]

Most of the tidbitting and calling I am seeing are from a couple of want-to-be broodies. Generally that action and tell tale sounds of the clucking lets me know the bird is about to be found all piled up in a nest box. Ah, nature!

Do you let yours hatch any chicks?

 

[Mimi13]

Do you let yours hatch any chicks?

I let my first broodie set because she was so dang persistent and I was curious. I gave her 8 eggs, only 4 were fertile. She did a marvelous job, at only 8 months.

 

[The Angry Hen]

Recently, I had a very peculiar experience with my Australorp hen mating another hen. She was used to being in a coop with a rooster, but recently, he had passed away. Soon, I'll be integrating another cockerel in with them.
Now on the other hand- I've only had roosters tidbit- either to a hen or as a way of expressing dominance to charge at you. With pullets, it's most likely nothing to worry of as the other posters had mentioned. It's normally only toward the birds (and people) she is used to seeing, or, see as of her own kin.